If you’re like most people, then you’ll likely spend a pretty significant chunk of your day online. Studies show that people spend, on average, around 6.5 hours on the internet every single day — or in other words, we’re online almost as much time as we are in our beds.
Of course, it’s not so much how much time you spend online that counts, but what you do while you’re there. There’s a big difference between spending six hours scrolling through Instagram and spending six hours taking a life-enhancing course, after all.
In this post, we’re going to run through some productive ways to spend your time on the internet, including playing mind-boosting games, learning a language, and learning more about yourself.
Learn a Language
There’s much to love about learning a foreign language. Not only is it excellent for keeping your brain sharp, but it can also have practical applications. Learn Spanish, for example, and any travel adventures you have to the Spanish-speaking countries in South America (or Spain!) will take on a whole other level of awesomeness.
The web has made it easier than ever to learn a second language. There are excellent language-learning videos on YouTube, for instance, that’ll get you started with the basics. Looking to enhance your comprehension of Spanish? These Spanish-language movies will get you up to speed.
Play a Game
Is playing a game a productive way to spend your time? Yes, if you play the right kind of game. While some games are purely about entertainment, others offer relaxation and brain-boosting benefits that allow you to get the most from your playing time. Chess, for example, has long been known for enhancing brain power. Other mind-enhancing games include poker and spider solitaire, both of which have been shown to improve cognitive function, enhance concentration, and improve problem-solving skills. That’s a lot of good that can come from simply playing an enjoyable game on your mobile or desktop.
Get Inspired
We could all do with a dose of inspiration from time to time. And while you might be hard-pressed to feel overly inspired if you’re scrolling through social media or reading news websites, the fact is that the internet is very much alive with inspiring content if you know where to look. Watching TED Talks, for example, is an excellent way to fill up your inspiration cup while also learning a thing or two about the world (or yourself!). If you’ve never watched a TED Talk before, then we’d recommend starting with the classics — this page, which outlines the most popular TED Talks of all time, is a good starting point.
Try a Guided Meditation/Breathwork/Yoga Session
The internet can make your mental health worse — or it can make you feel much, much better. Let’s focus on the latter. On YouTube, you’ll find hosts of guided meditation, breathwork, and yoga sessions, all of which are available completely free of charge yet can have a transformative impact on your day. Indeed, begin your morning with a thirty-minute yoga class, 15 15-minute breathwork session, and 10 10-minute guided meditation, and you’ll be setting yourself up to have a wonderful day.
Learn More About Yourself
It’s much easier to navigate life when you have a good understanding of yourself. While it can be recommended to find a therapist to work with, the internet can be a good starting point for getting to know yourself better. There are a bunch of online tests you can take that’ll help you understand more about your personality. This page outlines some of the best ones, which include Red Bull Wingfinder, 16 Personalities, and Berkeley’s Emotional Intelligence Test.
Improve Your Skills
The internet is awash with online courses that can help you to learn new skills, enhance your career, or simply help you take a deeper dive into one of your interests. The website you use will depend on what you’re looking for. If you’re looking to enhance your career, then check out the selection of courses on Udemy. If you simply want to learn something new for the fun of it, then check out Masterclass.
Get Creative
Finally, why not consider producing your content and seeing what happens? It’s easy enough to produce your own YouTube video or social media account. Another option is to start a blog or even write an ebook. While you’ll start these creative projects for fun, you might just discover that you have a talent that other people connect with, and from there, anything could happen.
